Shoe



MarchlO, 1931. J. SRFROHMAN 1,795,769

' SHOE Filed Oct. 26, 1929 INVENTOR Jac Z J, fiokman Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED s'rArlazs JACOB s. FROHMAN, or NEW YORK, N. Y,

SHOE

Application filed October 26,1929. Serial No. 402,584.

This invention relates to a shoe, slipper or like article of footwear. The object of the invention is to provide such an article which will be by reason of the nature of its construction light in weight, extremely comfortable to wear, capable of substantial vwear and possessing other features generally found desirable i-n footwear construction. In carrying out the object of this invention, I utilize as an outer covering for the shoe upper or for a portion thereof such a material as cork in sheet form. I have. found that cork when used as an outer covering for the shoe upper produces a shoe of light weight, is capable of long wear, has desirable qualities of absorption and'is comparable in many otherways with high class leather, cloth or similar materials now employed in shoe construction. I

With the objects heretofore stated and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, in

view, I have devised the particular arrangement of parts set forth below and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof in which Figure 1- is a perspective view showing a shoe or slipper made in accordance with my invention; i

Figure 2 is a transverse section across the toe-enclosing portion of the shoe; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the outer cork covering employed in the construction of the shoe.

Throughout the various views of the drawings, similar-reference characters designate v similar parts.

In the accompanying drawing in which an illustrative embodiment of. my improved shoe is disclosed, 1 indicates such a shoe.

While I hereafter refer to my improved article of footwear as a shoe, it will be readily understood that the same may well be a slipper or any similar article intended for either indoor or outdoor wear or for both or sport use.

The shoe disclosed in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is provided with the conventional sole 2 and heel 3 and upper portions 4, 5 and 6. The portions 4, 5 and 6 may be made in any. suitable shape to suit the particular design of shoe. These portions 4, Sand 6 or any one of them are provided with an outer covering material of cork as disclosed at 8. This cork material is preferably in sheet form and may consist of cork particles pressed together and maintained in sheet form by any of the well known processes of cork manufacture. Since cork does not possess any great'elastic t'endency,'it is necessary that the same be reinforced about its edges. Consequently, I show the section 5 as being reinforced about its edges by strips 9-and 13 which maybe made of any flexible and tough material such as leather, cloth or the like. The strip 9, which is secured to the sole 2 by stitching or the like, is provided with stitches 12 by which it is secured to the cork area 8 forming the toe enclosing portion 5 of the shoe. i

' The strip 13 which extends transversely .of-the shoe upper is similarly stitched to the cork area constituting the outer covering of the part 5. The area defined by the numeral 6 consists of a strap-like member extending transversely of the shoe and forms a substantial continuation of the part 5; This part 6 isseparated from the part 5- by a split 7 so that when the shoe is worn, the fold line across theforward part of the upper is located at the split 7 which removes thenposst' bility of the cork covering cracking under transverse bending of the shoe upper.

It will be seen that the edge of the section 6' is reinforced by suitable reinforcing strips 13a and 10, these strips being stitched to the cork area 8 by stitching 14. i The rear portion of the shoe upper disclosed at 4 is reinforced about its edges by reinforcing strips 11 and 13?), these strips being stitched to the cork 8 by stitching 14. s

In Figure 2 isdisclosed a cross section of the'shoe upper wherein I have shown a form of flexible backing 16 for the cork covering 8. This backing may be of any suitable material such as a textile fabric of desired flexibility, a tough paper or any similar substance. It acts to hold the cork together, to prevent cracking thereof and to enable the cork to be more readily stitched to its edge reinforcing sion according to the design of shoe inwhich strips. The backing 16 may be adhesively united to the cork sheet 8 or it may be intimately secured thereto by any other sultable means.

\Vhile I have shown and described the cork areas as being located in various parts of the shoe upper, it will be understood that the shoe may be provided with only one of these areas located wherever desired on the shoe upper or the areas may vary in size, shape and dimenthey are employ-ed. The shoe may be lined in the conventional way by a leather or cloth lining indicated at 15.

I have found that a corkcovering produces a shoe of extremely light weight, one Which is absorbent and which may be painted, decorated, or otherwise embellished to suit different requirements.

It will be seen from the structuredisclosed inthe accompanying drawing that I remove all strain on the cork areas by reinforcing them about their edges by a material of greater strength and toughness than the cork sheeting and that I utilize such stronger and tough material to attach the upper of the shoe to the sole, consequently avoiding any possibility of tearing or breaking the cork by reason of strains imposed upon it in the normal wearing of the shoe.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A shoe upper having its front portion split in separate elements, said elements being exteriorly covered with cork, each of said elements being surrounded by a reinforcing strip of 1greater strength and flexibility than the cor 2. A shoe having a sole, an upper connected thereto, said upper consisting of several segregated sections, the outer face of said sections being cork-covered, the cork areas being wholly surrounded by reinforcing strips composed of material of greater strength and flexibility than the cork, some ofsaid strips serving to connect said cork sections to the sole.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 25th day of October, 1929.

\ JACOB S. FROHMAN. 

